[VIDEO] Professional bike racers created a blur of color on downtown Evanston streets Sunday in the third annual NorthShore University HealthSystem Grand Prix.
The event marked the 10th day of the 17-day Premium Root Beer International Cycle Classic tour, the largest multi-category cycling series in the country.
It featured several races for men and women of different levels of skill. Competitors raced past Fountain Square at speeds topping 30 miles per hour.
More photos from the event
Children race down a shortened track in the Kids Bike Race.
Competitors form up at the start line in the Women’s Pro Race.
Competitors wait for the airhorn.
The air horn sounds, and racer breaks off from the main group early in the contest.
The competitors clock 30 miles per hour and beyond.
Spectators hit sponsor boards along the course to cheer bikers on.
Former Evanston mayor Lorraine Morton sounds an air horn, marking the start of the Men’s Pro Race.
The men stick close to the curb in this sharp turn.
Christoff Van Heerden, champion of the Men’s Pro Race, hugs a teammate shortly after crossing the finish
line.
Heerden accepts recognition during the awards ceremony
For results from the race, see the tour website.